"Fort Myers attorney E.B. Newberry says at the very least this is a misdemeanor battery because the girls touched the boy against his will."

"Newberry says if the situation have been reversed, the boy most likely would have been arrested - and admits there's a "double standard."

"Kids need to know they can't do these things and get off without anything," said Newberry. "But I also don't think that their future should be ruined either. It's a Catch-22."

We always hear this "their futures shouldn't be ruined either" bit.

No the offenders shouldn't have their futures ruined, but at the same time the punishment should be enough that these kids have good old fashioned fear put into them. Kids get away with WAY too much today.

This poor kid is probably scarred for life in ways that haven't shown yet, but eventualy will, it's just a matter of time

The good old "double standard" in America? Don't even get me started....

Frequently, the best thing for their futures is to let them face the consequences of their actions, and hope they learn something. Going easy on kids who break the law, especially in violent ways, is not helping anyone, including them.

Frequently, the best thing for their futures is to let them face the consequences of their actions, and hope they learn something. Going easy on kids who break the law, especially in violent ways, is not helping anyone, including them.

Well said and I couldn't agree more with your assessment.

Kids get away with too much and instead of concentrating on what we can't do to them, we should start showing them what the law CAN do to them..

The BoyHe needs to see a counselor at least once, as he needs and should work out his feelings in this instance.

The CommunityAs it is a gated community, I presume they have community meetings; therefore, they need to get to the bottom of and put a stop to "owning," as I have a good/bad feeling this is not the first time this has happened. It is just the first time it has come to everybody's attention.

The GirlsI am giving them the benefit of the doubt, and thinking they have little idea as to what they did was wrong. That is why their parents and the community at large needs to step in and tell them why it was wrong, and put an end to it.

The Girls' ParentsI do not think any body is going anywhere, nor any reason that they should. That is why all the parents in this case should have a confab to work everything out. It would also go a ways to making amends if the girls' parents picked up part of the cost of whatever counseling the boy needed. I am just afraid the girls' parents will poo poo everything as kids just being kids, which is the wrong attitude to take.

The LawyerHow typical to think about the life of the perpertrators without thinking about how the life of the victim might already be ruined.

The Mother'I can understand why she does not want to press charges, but if she does nothing most likely nobody will do anything neither, and this sort of incidents will continue. And if she does not want to pursue a criminal case, she may want to think about pursueing a civil case in the matter. That is why it would behoove her to see a lwayer to find out what all her options are in this case.

The Police"A prank?" I seldom have heard anything so asinine in my life. As someone has already pointed out, if the roles had been reversed, there would probably be already some preliminary action taken. At least, the police in this case need to be taught the difference between a prank and a crime of a sexual nature.

The BoyHe needs to see a counselor at least once, as he needs and should work out his feelings in this instance.

Agreed. From bullying to outright assaults like this one, some sort of psychiatric help will be needed, lest the clueless a**sholes who see his victimization as "normal kid behavior" shake their heads in wonder when the kids grows up to be an anger filled mysoginist who wants to beat the hell out of every woman he sees.

The Mother'I can understand why she does not want to press charges, but if she does nothing most likely nobody will do anything neither, and this sort of incidents will continue. And if she does not want to pursue a criminal case, she may want to think about pursueing a civil case in the matter. That is why it would behoove her to see a lwayer to find out what all her options are in this case.

If laws have been broken and there's enough evidence without the victim's testimony (such as a video), the police should just lay charges regardless of what the victim wants to do. I've never understood the need to "press" charges. They broke the law, you can prove it, charge them.

The Mother'I can understand why she does not want to press charges, but if she does nothing most likely nobody will do anything neither, and this sort of incidents will continue. And if she does not want to pursue a criminal case, she may want to think about pursueing a civil case in the matter. That is why it would behoove her to see a lwayer to find out what all her options are in this case.

That makes a good point because it would seem that in a majority of cases, victims are still afraid to come forward for what might happen, and as a side effect, it winds up that the incidents continue anyhow because of the emboldened state of the attackers as each successful assault causes them to become more brazen and unafraid of any legal consequences.

If laws have been broken and there's enough evidence without the victim's testimony (such as a video), the police should just lay charges regardless of what the victim wants to do. I've never understood the need to "press" charges. They broke the law, you can prove it, charge them.

I know that's how it works in some cases now. If I'm right, in NJ the police can press charges for domestic violence even if the victim dosen't. Again, I'm not 100% sure on this but I believe to thebest of m knowledge, that something like that is in effect.

Dunno how to feel about this one. I mean as an adult I'd probably like older women to hold me down and take off my bathing suit.

That's because you're imagining the women as attractive, and incapable of doing you any real harm. It doesent quite work out like that in real life.

Logged

"When I die, I hope you will use my body creatively." - Shin Chan

"Tonight, we will honor the greatest writers in America with a modest 9 by 12 certificate and a check for three thousand dollars...three thousand dollars? Stephen King makes more than that for writing boo on a cocktail napkin." - Jimmy Breslin

The Mother'I can understand why she does not want to press charges, but if she does nothing most likely nobody will do anything neither, and this sort of incidents will continue. And if she does not want to pursue a criminal case, she may want to think about pursueing a civil case in the matter. That is why it would behoove her to see a lwayer to find out what all her options are in this case.

If laws have been broken and there's enough evidence without the victim's testimony (such as a video), the police should just lay charges regardless of what the victim wants to do. I've never understood the need to "press" charges. They broke the law, you can prove it, charge them.

Allocation of resources. Unless it's a very serious crime, the police and district attorneys have more important things to do than to pursue cases where the victim won't cooperate with the prosecution.

As my sister always says: "I hate it when you start to think, because your thoughts always wander in such mysterious directions." But, having said that . . . Here are a baker's dozen thoughts on the subject, and none of them dealing with the "double standard."

Thoughts (I Know)Did they know each other?Yes. Slightly. As the victim's older brother went to the same middle school as the girls.Actually, apparently, he went over to talk to them, before they assaulted and stripped him, when he saw them sitting there.

Why did the victim not fight back?Well. It was 3 to 1. And did you see the size of those girls. Big mamas. And the victim was just a tiny little thing. Hardly bigger than a nubbin. And surprise. I am sure, when he woke up that morning and went out, he was not expecting to be attacked and stripped. Especially in an area he thought was safe by people he thought he knew.

Where was the father?Apparently, there isn't one at this time. Just a single mother trying to raise two boys alone.

Why was he wearing a bathing suit?This never make any sense to me, as bathing suits are not commong street wear. At least, not where I live. But, if there had been a pool nearby, and he had gone for a swim, or was going to go for a swim?

When and from who did the mother learn about it?Not that day and not from the victim, but the next day from his older brother, who went to school and found out that many of his classmates who had access to the world wide web, were watching the video on youtube. He then went home and told his mother what had happened.

Why there needs to be punishment?We may not agree what a crime was committed, nor what is the proper punishment, but I think we can all agree that their behavior was inappropriate and uncceptable. Thus, if there is not punishment,, they may think such behavior is appropriate, and someoe else seeing this may think such behavior is acceptable.

Which is why, the last that I heard, the police are thinking of charging them with misdemeanor assault. Which is light, consdiering some legal experts think they might be guilty of child pornography. But as the police weren't going to charge them at alll . . .?

And maybe lost of Facebook is a fate worst than death. Apparently, at least one of the girls had a page on Facebook, wheree she posted the video. And now she has been banned from Facebook till she reaches here 18th birthday.

Thoughts (I Think)

How much planning went into it?a. None. Completely spontaneousb. Some. Like so much fact and fiction. He was just the wrong person, in the wrong place, at the wrong time.c. Alot, They were specifically laying for him. For whatever reason.I think b or c.

Was conspiracy to commit a crime committed?Of course, if you choose b or c. But also for two other reasons. Outside of actually raping him, they could not have better humiliated him than by stripping him naked against his will, because they were attacking his masculinity. And instead of attacking him, when he was coming home from school, which has happened, and when he'd be wearing shoes, socks, trousers, a shirt, and underwear, at least 7 or 8 items, they attacked him when he was at the pool. No socks, No shoes, No underwear. Just a shirt and swimming trunks. And it is alot easier to stri[p someone naked, when they have on only 2 items of clothing than 7 or 8 items of clothing.

Why all the jokes?On a subject that is frankly not that funny. Because joking ia a method some people use to cope with a subject they cannot otherwise cope with it. And when you see that more of the jokes come from men than women, as much as they may deny it, it is a subject men cannot cope with, as it hits too close to home.

Thoughts (I Would Like to Know)

Who gave them the idea, or did they think it up on their own? Not even a think, but a thought. Someone else gave them the idea, so who is this 4th person?

The relationship between the brothers?One of the most interesting relationships to me, and one not even talked about, is the relationship between the two brothers. Both before and after the incident.

The tape . . . ?Is of interest in and of itself.a. Where did Fox 4 News get a copy of it?b.Though the "naughty bits" are blurred and even blacked out, why even show that part on the news?c. Why did you youtube even show it? While there are 5470 videos under the title "KId Gets Owned," or the video's original title. There is nothing close to that on youtube.d.Then when they took it down, why did it take them 24 hours to do it?

What is the number of people who attend the predominantly black schools in the area and live in the predominantly white gated community?